The Daisy Chain

ructure th

th materia

ys and ye

ocks which

e and fash

awning gap

because n

ll remain unse

"Is Richard come in? pray call him;" then on his entrance, "Oh, Richard, would you be so kind as to take this to the bank. I don't like to se

you the care of hi

into dear mamma's lap, when they were just married, and his old uncle had given up to him, and how he had brought them to her ever since; he said she had spoiled him by taking all trouble off his hands. He looked at it, as if it was so sorrowful to him to have to dispose of it, that I begged h

ed it?" sa

the week's expenses. Just see that it is rig

y, when all that has been kicking about loose in an

your way," said Richard quietly. "Am I

. The pain of his arm, going on so long, seems to me to have pulled him down; it does not let him sleep, and, by the end of the day, he gets worn and fagged by seeing so many people,

ly; "it will not do to press him about our c

he fresh air, and being alone with Richard, are a rest for him. To-day is especially trying; he doe

there

he would go, though he was tired. I am afraid the poor daughter

been talking of?" and, without perception of fit times and seasons, Ethel would have told her story, but Margaret, t

died as I got there, and I could not lea

d Margaret. "He w

r his counter. 'Tis a strong bond of neighbourliness in a small place like this, and, as one grows old, changes come heavier-'the clouds return again after the rain.' Thank you, my dear," as Ethel fetched his

et, who saw the quiet of her room would suit him better than the bustle

ld do, was to search for some books on schools. In seeking for them, she displayed such

to rights," said Ethel, gulping down her dislike of being reprove

doing? piling up those heavy books on the top of the littl

e Ethel some advice, which she received, seated o

o do it on the principles o

talogues, and finding her own long-lost 'Undine', at which she was so delighted that she would have forgotten all; in proceeding to read it, curled up on the floor amongst the heaps of pamph

; and whether there were fewer idioms, or that she was trying to understand, instead of carping at the master's explanation

mpre blunder upon any of the subjects Ethel feels too deeply to talk of in good French

r up, Flora-you must want to go and draw or practice

within six weeks of seventeen, and surely she need not be sent down again to the school-room, when she had been so good a manager of the whole family. She was fond of study and of accomplishments, but

id, "and I could draw here, if I wi

not understanding the whole of it: "You know, dear Flo

othing so well as waiting on you, and I ca

. "I think it would be a relief for Ethel to esc

d Flora. "Why don't you tell M

r own hands, and if you would be so kind as to change sometimes and sit in th

and practise in the drawing-room. The old school-roo

use of it were cut short by Ethel running in with a slate in one hand an

autiful sum in Compound Proportion, about a lion, a wolf, and a bear eating up a carcase, and as soon as they have done it, you shall hear me say my ancient geography, and then we w

pecting to be amused; next came Norman, and Ethel gave up in despair; and, after having affronted Flora in the morning, Margaret was afraid of renewing the offence, by attempting to secu

st evening," said she, "for papa went t

how I pity you,

for I don't mind those things now. I am never s

en the slides of a magic lantern," said Ethel;

slowly waking to find myself here in dear mamma's place, and papa watching over me. Sometimes I think I have not half

r bed here with you. You are a little of her, besides being my own dea

rgaret, "though it may make it worse for you to have him away. I don't think it selfish in me to keep hi

s selfish-don't talk of it, dear Margaret. It will b

I want so much to hear," said Margaret, "about

a week will do a great deal, if we can but make them wish to learn. It is a much bett

give it a start, and put you in the way of it, and get you through the shor

t will be disagreeable, but I don't think so-they are such unsophisticated people. That Granny Hal

for disappointme

e without drawbacks; but I am

e had always regretted that she had so many duties at home, that she could not attend as much to t

thel said, but she w

new you would like to hear it. It s

we can't act without papa's consent and Mr. Wilmot's help, and he says papa m

said M

is so dreadfully hard to stir up, and what's worse, so very much afraid of papa, that while he i

himself useful and a comfort, and papa is gentler; and that has cheered

wish it was you. Can't you?

s he may soon speak, and, if not, you can be preparing in a quiet way all the time. Don't y

e six weeks," said Ethel. "If one does nothing but think

Margaret. "The more you consider, and the wiser you make

elf of my slovenly ways

"but that ought to be the way. If we are not just the thing in ou

s Richard. Though he is so precise, he is never tiresome. He makes me see things, and do them neatly, without plaguing me, and putting me in a rage. I'm not ready to bite off my own fingers, or kick all the rattle-traps over and leave them, as I am when Miss Winter sc

Richard was her especial darling, and she triumphed in any eulogy from those

is all nonsense to him," said Ethel. "I can't think how people can be so different

have heard no

was telling me you would make a n

eat as other people," said Richard grav

ving cordial sympathy and counsel. When Ethel was called away, Margaret said, "I am so glad you have taken it

not know what she unde

e thing to prevent her energies from running to waste, and her being so mu

don't half understand or follow her, and when I think a thing nonsense,

t more dull than you are,"

e that does not care about it. That is what makes me wish Norman was the eldest. If

You would not be a calm, cautious, steady balance to the quicksilver heads some of us have got. No, no, Norman's a ver

rd. "I don't mind so much, since my father has at least on

s, and papa was pleased at your offering, and said he could not spare you at

speak to him as soon as I can find h

Harry entered with a resolute manner. "Margaret, I wanted to speak to you," said he, spreading himself out, with an elbow on each arm of

an it serio

nd if it is to come to pass, it is time t

ht boy, rosy cheeked, round faced, and blue eyed, with the childish gladsomeness of co

ife, but I must get my own living some way or other, a

e to be always

t. I should hate to be a doctor-I can't abide sick people; and I couldn't write sermons, so I can't be a clergyman; and I won't be

y, and try to do right, if you ar

set your face against it, no

im-" Margaret found herse

ill ask pap

affairs with their fathers, without setting their sisters to inter

out to shoot pee-wits last Saturday with two fellows

better tell

would be like a girl, and it woul

pa would not ca

t they said I was afraid of a gun, and that I had no money. Now I

for I knew you had been less at home of late, and I

go moping about as Norman does. I can't live without fun, and now Norman

drawn into mischief here for want

d be an

difference inside, though it might outside. You must get the se

orrid fellow-he spites Norman, and he bullied me, till I was big enough to show him that it would not do-and though I

t, and let him le

Harry indignantly, "but I won't

eant, but instead of answering, he began to boast, "There

ut you know there may be much harm without public disgrace.

d copy old stock verses. Oh, it was such fun the other day. What do you think? Norman must have been dreaming, for he had taken

nation she would be in! I

ers Babylon; but, altering a line or two, it did just as well. He never guessed I saw him, and thought he had done it famously. He showed them up, and would have got some noted good mark, but that, by great good luck, Eth

ne knows the

. "D'ye think I could tell? No, that's the only pity, that he can't hear it; but, aft

s of poor Ethel'

d you don't tell anyone, Marga

ows aren't like these? Yo

ut sixth and upper fifth form," said Harry, lowering his voice into an anxious confidential tone; "and since Norman has been less amongst them, they've got worse; and you see, now home is different,

ld be of real use but changing within. If you don't get a root of strength in yourself, your ship

t do you think papa will conse

any scheme is to come to good, it must begin

never did anything so bad before without telling, and I don't like it a

ell him. You'll have no

the gun, and I fired and killed one, and that was regular poaching, you know! And when we heard some one coming, how we did cut! Ax-the other fellow, I mean, g

in, the only peace

tstoke rabbits, don't you remember how much he said about its being disgraceful, and ordering us never to have anything to

even it he should be angry at first, h

culated on. "Come, Harry," said she, "if he is ever so angry, though I don't think he will be, do you think that will be half as bad as

e at the moment of trial coming so speedily, and had half a mind to retreat by the other door; he was stayed by the refle

is is company I

ething to say

what is it?"

ing with them last Saturday," said Harry, speaking firmly and boldly now he had once

hear that the boy was only brought to confession by finding himself in a

th a keen glance, between affection and inquiry, as if only waiting t

eetness of expression gained the day on his father's face. "Only that I kno

bs, in spite of Harry's attempts to control them, as

rry sprang back at least a yard, with such a look of dismay, that the doctor laughed. "No harm done!" said he. "I was only a little in dread of such a young lion! Comeback, Harry," and he took his hand. "It was a bad piece of work, and it will never do for you to

apa-tha

ions about it, for fear of betraying th

content for some space to lean in silence against the chair, with that enci

Anything rather than be without them in the dreary world! But then came the remembrance of cherished visions, the shame of relinquishing a settled purpose, the thought of weary morrows, with the tempters among his playmates, and his home blank and melancholy; and the roaming spirit of enterprise stirred again, and reproached him with being a baby, for fancying he could stay at home for ever. He would come back again with such honours as Alan Ernescliffe had brought, and oh! if his father so prized the

pa will you let

me on again, is it? I thought t

I mean it quite in earnest-I had rather be a sailor. I don't wish to get away from Latin and Greek, I don't mind them; but I think I could be a better sailor

t," said Dr. May. "You have it strong in your head

one must rough it anywhere, and if I am ever so far away, I'll try n

s easier talking by one's own firesi

you let

g kindly, "but I won't treat it as a boy's fancy, for you've spoken in a manly way, and deserve to be attended

inging sick sailors home-one's own boys must be catching the infection. Little monkey, he talks

et; "I don't think he eve

old of a lad, he must have his way-he i

evil in that profession as well

hen his smile turned into a heavy sigh, as he saw he had brought colour to Margaret's pale

r, pausing; "but it neve

Stoneborough. The doctor listened and considered at last he rose, and said, "Well, I'll set Ritchie to write to Ernescliffe, and hear what he says. What must be, m